Wind Up Toys

Multiple wind-up toys in one box

Therapists may use wind-up toys when working on things like fine motor skills, visual tracking, the coordinated use of both hands, reaching, etc. with kids. Who doesn't enjoy watching a colorful rabbit bounce up and down while riding on a hopping duck's back? That's only one of the whimsical wind-up toys included in this box. 

The plastic is light weight, as many small wind-up toys of this type are. The stems felt small and light weight as I was turning them, but they were long enough to get a hold of and I didn't have any trouble with them.

I work with a young man that has difficulty focusing so I like to start my sessions with something that will really grab his attention. As predicted, he watched them with intense interest as they made their way back and forth and around the table.

There is a lot of variety in movement in this collection. Some hop, some glide, some moved quickly and some slowly, one even moved sideways. Many of them changed direction suddenly. The turtle body just sat still while the legs flapped and the monkey jumps up and does a somersault. I would have to say the cockroach was my favorite (how often can you make that claim!). He moved fast, covered a lot of distance and never broke down.

Unfortunately, by about the end of week three, many of them were no longer working. They weren't wound too tight, they just didn't move. I would recommend looking for wind-up toys that seem more durable than these, ones that look like they'll last awhile. You can sometimes find them in the novelty section during a holiday.

Try this:

• Model which way to turn the knob and/or work hand-over-hand until they learn and have the feel for it. Wind up toys can be fragile and it may be easy to over-wind them and then they stop working.
• Pick two or three that move in the same direction and have a race.
• Try to keep several moving at the same time. You will have to be quick as often wind-up toys wind down fast.
• Pick one that moves fast and covers a lot of distance. Watch and try to predict where it might run off the table and be ready to block it, being flexible to change directions as it does. The cockroach is a good one for this.
• Work on manual dexterity, fine motor precision, coordinated use of both hands, visual tracking, process skills, play and leisure exploration and participation

 In the box: 24 wind-up toys

If you are interested in purchasing this or just want more information, click on the image below.